Energia Group has announced that 11 projects across the island of Ireland focused on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 Climate Action will receive funding under its new Greener Possibilities fund.
Each of the 11 awarded projects will receive €10,000 to support their project, representing a total award of €110,000 across the island of Ireland. Administered by The Community Foundation for Ireland, the Energia Group Greener Possibilities Fund aims to support projects with a connection to SDG 13, “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.”
Successful applicants were required to propose a project that was related to the climate crisis, climate resilience or biodiversity protection. Applicants who support groups affected by the impacts of climate change, groups involved in climate action or organisations hoping to build a stronger sustainability focus into their existing work were considered as part of the closed fund administered by Community Foundation Ireland.
Global Action Plan, FoodCloud, Leave No Trace, Autism Support Louth & Meath, The Big Idea and ALONE were successful in their application for funding for their Climate Action projects. In Northern Ireland the following applicants were successful; Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, Grow NI, Air Ambulance NI and Age NI.
Commenting on the Greener Possibilities fund and successful projects, Gary Ryan, MD Energia Customer Solutions stated; “At Energia Group, we are delighted to support these deserving climate action projects through our first Greener Possibilities fund. We are firmly committed to promoting climate action and have aligned our responsible business activities to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The Greener Possibilities fund is aligned to SDG 13, Climate Action and it demonstrates our continued support for the communities in which we operate. We have a long-standing record of working in collaboration with community groups to enhance local areas and to benefit local people. We are confident that the continued proactive and innovative action of communities will help Ireland achieve its climate action targets”.
Speaking about their project Keith Magee from Global Action Plan said, “The Energia Group Greener Possibilities fund will allow us in GAP to accelerate our plans to bring the GLAS @ TU Dublin Community Garden to life as a thriving space for community engagement and learning, replicating the successful GLAS Community Garden in Ballymun. The garden, hosted in TU Dublin Blanchardstown, is unique in that it is managed for social inclusion, supporting community members of all ages, abilities and mobilities to join and participate in activities related to organic growing and gardening and building competencies for sustainability, environmental and climate action.”
Speaking about their project, Carol Foster from Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said, “Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful is excited to receive this support from the Greener Possibilities Fund. It will extend our climate action work, allowing us to do more to raise awareness of climate change with young people, because better knowledge leads to more action! Over the next 12 months, our project will engage youth workers, equipping them with the resources, the tools, the knowledge and, importantly, the confidence to deliver crucial climate change training to young people.”
Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland said: “Climate action only works when everyone plays their part. This is why we promote a partnership approach led by communities. We are delighted that Energia Group is bringing this focus to its work. The Greener Possibilities Fund recognises the positive efforts to reverse the impact of climate change which are taking place on the ground right across the country. The support being provided will make a big difference not just in terms of awareness raising but also in helping Ireland secure its goals – that’s good news for our communities, our country and our planet.”
Energia Group has a long-standing record of working in collaboration with community groups having invested more than €3 million in communities through our wind farm community benefit funds. In addition, we support a number of climate action education initiatives as well contribute hundreds of volunteering hours every year to worthy local charities across the island of Ireland.
To find out more please visit www.energiagroup.com/community/greenerpossibilities
